Watch: The 1973 Yom Kippur War

On October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated surprise assault against Israel

Date: 06/10/2011, 4:06 PM Author: IDF (Zahal) Website

On October 6, 1973, which was Yom Kippur (the holiest day of the Jewish year), Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated surprise attack against Israel, with Egyptian forces crossing the Suez Canal and Syrian forces entering the Golan Heights.

Over three weeks of heavy battles, the IDF (Zahal) overcame initial Egyptian and Syrian gains and advanced to the western side of the Suez Canal and to the vicinity of the Syrian capital of Damascus.